Two Qs about the M-P...

[Godfrey]

Flash: I see Metz makes the Meacblitz 26 AF-1 listed for Olympus, Panasonic, and Leica cameras. Is this also compatible with the M-P? If it is, does this imply that other FoirThirds/Micro-FourThirds are Leica M-P compatible?

Cable release: does the M-P have a standard cable release thread?

Thx
G

 

[Godfrey]

Flash: I see Metz makes the Meacblitz 26 AF-1 listed for Olympus, Panasonic, and Leica cameras. Is this also compatible with the M-P? If it is, does this imply that other FoirThirds/Micro-FourThirds are Leica M-P compatible?

Cable release: does the M-P have a standard cable release thread?

Hmm. Answering my own questions ...

- Leica responded. They said the Leica/Panasonic cameras use a different dedicated protocol from the German made Leica cameras, so the FourThirds flashes are likely not compatible. I was curious that they used the word "likely" ... anyone ever try them?

- My conical-thread cable release works fine, now that I'm home to try it out.

G

 

[jlindstrom]

Don't know about that particular flash, but I just bought the Leica sf-58 2nd hand for just shy of 400€ in a great condition.. So yeah, double price but I'd also caim far more capable flash unit.

//Juha

 

[Godfrey]

Don't know about that particular flash, but I just bought the Leica sf-58 2nd hand for just shy of 400€ in a great condition.. So yeah, double price but I'd also caim far more capable flash unit.

//Juha

I'm sure that's true, but it wasn't the point of my query. The Metz 26 AF-1 ($130) for Leica/Panasonic cameras is sold as the Leica SF 26 Flash ($390) by Leica for Leica M/M-P. If the flash unit-body protocol is the same between then, that's a huge savings. It also means that other, higher-end flash units compatible with FourThirds/Micro-FourThirds would be compatible as well (a protcol specification guarantees that). I happen to have two higher-end Olympus flash units (FL-36 and FL-50): if the protocol was the same, it would save me several hundred dollars as well as yet another flash unit to manage.

In truth, I usually don't use dedicated flash units. A simple RF flash trigger and a manual flash unit usually does everything I need. I was curious simply because I have these flash units and know they're compatible with Leica/Panasonic products as well. So I wanted a determination as to whether Leica used the same flash protocol with the M line. Evidently, they do not.

G

 

[jlindstrom]

The answer to that is probably: it depends. I remember there was a Metz counterpaet for sf-58 with some sca-adapter that would work with Leica. The sf-26 might have the same in 26 AF-1. The other ones won't probably do TTL.

Then again the different sf-series units work on all Leica products, so would be strange if protocol is different. So might be just that the 26 AF-1 has some larger firmware to support multiple protocols?

At best it's a matter of finding a dealer that let's you try the flash in advance.

 

[250swb]

The tilt and swivel Olympus FL36 and FL50 both work with the M240 in Auto or Manual modes, not TTL. Both flashes can be used either with m4/3 or 35mm by changing the menu option which in turn alters the zoom settings for the focal length chosen.

Steve

 

[Godfrey]

The tilt and swivel Olympus FL36 and FL50 both work with the M240 in Auto or Manual modes, not TTL. Both flashes can be used either with m4/3 or 35mm by changing the menu option which in turn alters the zoom settings for the focal length chosen.

Thanks Steve! That will be good enough for my needs.

Oh ... I presume you mean the menu option in the flash unit, right? I haven't used the FL36 in quite a while, have to hunt up where the instruction manual is!

:: Ah, don't know where the paper manual is off the top of my head, but I have the PDF. I see the control menu you mentioned now. Thanks again!

Further hunting ... I guess I sold or loaned the FL-50 to a friend of mine. I'll have to call him and see if he bought it—it was that long ago that I used it. No matter, the FL-36 is good enough for my uses along with the other non-dedicated flash units. ::

G

 

[250swb]

Glad it's going to work Godfrey. I think the Olympus units are just about the right size although the FL50 can be a bit top heavy without a grip on the camera. And yes, I also lost my instructions and needed to download the pdf. for the FL36! I think if it was better known about the FF/35mm potential the Olympus flashes would be much more sought after.

Steve

 

[Godfrey]

As usual, Olympus makes (or has OEM'ed for them) good stuff. I got the FL-36 on clear out sale when the FL-36R had just been introduced. I think I paid $90 for it, and it's been 100% reliable.

Oh yes: Leica USA got back to me about the cable release. Seems I have just exactly the right one, small conical thread where the pusher part doesn't stick out too far until you press the button.

G